Verizon Buys Sensity Systems to Enhance IoT Platform for Smart Cities

Sep 13, 2016

Verizon Communications Inc. yesterday announced it has signed an agreement to purchase Sensity Systems Inc., a private company based in Sunnyvale, California. The acquisition adds to Verizon's suite of smart city solutions enabled by its ThingSpace Internet of Things platform which aims to help communities increase economic development, drive citizen engagement and enable sustainability.

Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in fourth-quarter 2016.

Sensity Systems capitalizes on conversions to LED lighting – a process expected to affect 4 billion lights worldwide over the next few years – to create a high-speed, sensor-based, multiservice IoT platform.

Sensity has 42 smart city installations across the globe supplied through its ecosystem partners. Its platform has enabled facility and municipal lighting owners to implement a variety of smart city applications and services and link energy efficiency and cost savings to the improvement of business goals such as public safety, parking control, environmental and weather monitoring, asset management and location analytics.

Mike Lanman, senior vice president – Enterprise Products and IoT at Verizon, said: "Sensity is a leading provider of IoT solutions for smart communities with a strong ecosystem of partners, and this transaction will accelerate the deployment of large-scale implementations that will drive the digital transformation of cities, universities and venues. Verizon is uniquely positioned through its infrastructure investments at the network, platform and application levels to provide holistic solutions that empower communities to address their most pervasive challenges."

Sensity Chairman and CEO Hugh Martin said: "Rapid urbanization is putting a huge strain on city services globally, coupled with inefficiencies caused by an aging infrastructure that currently supports critical functions, such as fire and emergency services, public transportation, lighting, sewer and sanitation systems. Sensity realized early on that IoT could be the key to breaking out of this dilemma. With Verizon, we look forward to delivering IoT connected systems on a massive scale to change how cities and communities operate around the world."

In connection with the transaction, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal advisor to Verizon. Pagemill Partners acted as financial advisor to Sensity, and Fenwick & West LLP acted as legal advisor.

Verizon has developed an array of connected-intelligent solutions including parking, lighting, traffic management and security to improve livability and public safety for local communities.

The company's Smart Communities organization, which is a part of its IoT business, is also looking to simplify the creation of IoT applications through ThingSpace.